托福培訓(xùn)丨論新托福閱讀中修辭目的題的多變性

1、托福培訓(xùn)丨論新托福閱讀中修辭目的題的多變性朗閣托福培訓(xùn)中心 金小潔修辭目的題(rhetorical purpose questions)在新托福閱讀考試中為必考題，每篇文章一般有0-2題，其題目表達(dá)形式常見(jiàn)為：the author uses x as an example ofwhy does the author mention x ?why does the author use the word in discussing?the author discusses x in paragraph x in order to在介紹具體的做題技巧前，我們先詳細(xì)了解一下什么是所謂的修辭以及它所考

2、察的考生的能力有哪些：托福閱讀中的修辭含義很廣，包括"舉例子、下定義、闡述、解釋、對(duì)比、反駁、強(qiáng)調(diào)、批評(píng)"等。根據(jù)官方指南(official guide)說(shuō)法，這里的修辭是指"有效寫作或演講的藝術(shù)"，也就是說(shuō)，某個(gè)具體信息可能是為了給某個(gè)觀點(diǎn)舉例子，下定義，或者是為了闡述、解釋、對(duì)比、反駁、強(qiáng)調(diào)、批評(píng)某個(gè)觀點(diǎn)。而這里說(shuō)的具體信息可能是一個(gè)詞、一句話甚至是一個(gè)段落。如果說(shuō)事實(shí)信息題是問(wèn)作者給出了哪個(gè)細(xì)節(jié)或信息的話，修辭目的題則是問(wèn)為什么給出某個(gè)具體信息或細(xì)節(jié)。由此我們可以知道修辭目的題實(shí)際考察同學(xué)們?cè)陂喿x中"角色轉(zhuǎn)換"的能力，也就是把自

3、己想成是作者，揣摩作者寫某個(gè)詞、某句話，或某一段的意圖能力。所以考生一定要明白這類題目不是讓你理解句意，千萬(wàn)不要以做細(xì)節(jié)題的思路來(lái)解決這類題型。那么如何正確解題？以及到底這類題型有哪些變化呢？接下來(lái)我們就來(lái)好好的討論一番。首先，根據(jù)上文論述，我們做的第一步就是要找出修辭的邏輯上一層信息。什么意思呢？我們可以發(fā)現(xiàn)修辭的目的就是為了一個(gè)信息點(diǎn)服務(wù)，而在邏輯上分析可以理解成下層信息為上層信息奠定基礎(chǔ)。因此，我們需要找尋的答案就是修辭本身所支持的邏輯上一層信息。如何在文中正確的找尋上一層信息？本文將會(huì)講解幾個(gè)考生比較容易掌握的找尋方法。1. 句子細(xì)節(jié)信息支持句子主干內(nèi)容對(duì)于這一類題目，答案基本上就在同

4、一句話中，所以不需要往句子前或者句子后進(jìn)行搜索，只要從句子本身分析出發(fā)，找出句子中的主干信息和細(xì)節(jié)信息。請(qǐng)看例子：Note the word "net": measuring the actual amounts of groundwater seepage into the lake and out of the lake is a much more complicated matter than merely inferring their difference. (TPO 24 lake water)4. Why does the author use the ph

5、rase Note the word "net" in the passage?A. To emphasize the impact of seepage on water levelsB. To point out that seepage is calculated differently from river flows and atmospheric exchangesC. To compare the different methods of calculating seepageD. To emphasize the difficulty of obtainin

6、g specific values for seepage inputs and outputs 注意觀察冒號(hào)這個(gè)符號(hào)，意為解釋后面的句子主干信息，所以答案為D。This facility was then in its third decade of production and was beginning to show signs of decline, perhaps because of over development. (TPO 21 Geothermal Energy)6. In paragraph 3, why does the author mention that in

7、the 1990s the Geysers was in its third decade of production?A. To provide the historical context of the geothermal production of electricity in the United StatesB. To imply that the Geysers was the first geothermal site to be put into production in CaliforniaC. To help explain the signs of decline s

8、hown by the GeysersD. To explain why 70 new geothermal sites were put into electricity production in the late 1990s句子前半句出現(xiàn)then, 可見(jiàn)前面內(nèi)容是為了支持后半句and后面的內(nèi)容。2. 整個(gè)句子內(nèi)容是為了論證所支持的邏輯上一層的論點(diǎn)對(duì)于此類題目，答案基本上往修辭所在句子的前面或者后面搜索答案。按其特征來(lái)看，可以分為以下兩類進(jìn)行分別論述。(1). 有明顯的邏輯連接詞或者態(tài)度詞作為提醒，答案的位置基本上可以根據(jù)提醒詞推出在修辭所在句子前面或者后面。邏輯連接詞以及態(tài)度詞有：轉(zhuǎn)折關(guān)

9、系：however, but, although, instead, rather than等因果關(guān)系：because, result in, result from, consequently, as a result等遞進(jìn)關(guān)系：furthermore, also, moreover等態(tài)度類詞匯：happy, worried, panic, luckily, fortunately, unfortunately, impatient, curious, anxious, ridiculous, hopeless等請(qǐng)看例子：One necessary condition seems to be

10、 a somewhat detached view of human problems. For example, one sign of this condition is the appearance of the comic vision, since comedy requires sufficient detachment to view some deviations from social norms as ridiculous rather than as serious threats to the welfare of the entire group. (TPO 1 th

11、e origins of theater)11. Why does the author mention “comedy”?A. To give an example of early types of theaterB. To explain how theater helps a society respond to threats to its welfareC. To help explain why detachment is needed for the development of theater D. To show how theatrical performers beco

12、me detached from other members of society.for example標(biāo)志應(yīng)該往前看，前面是觀點(diǎn)后面是例子，所以答案為CForehead rubbing by male deer on buck rubs presumably sends a great deal of information to other members of the same species. First, the chemicals deposited on the rub provide information on the individual identity of an a

13、nimal; no two mammals produce the same scent. For instance, as we all know, dogs recognize each other via smell. (TPO 28 Buck Rubs and Buck Scrapes)5. Why does author mention that “dogs recognize each other via smell”?A. To point out the similarities between dogs and deerB. To argue that animals com

14、municate through scent rather than through visionC. To support the claim that the scent of a buck rub serves to identify its maker to other deerD. To suggest that rubs can be detected by other species這句話是由for instance引出的，那么如果要找這個(gè)例子的目的，要到前面去找論點(diǎn)。這一段的總論點(diǎn)，就是第一句話，主要是“send information to other members”; f

15、irst后面是第一個(gè)分論點(diǎn)，所以答案應(yīng)該跟這兩句有關(guān)，因此選C氣味可以幫助identify。At greater depths within Earth, the pressure of the overlying rock causes pores and cracks to close, reducing the space that pore water can occupy, and almost complete closure occurs at a depth of about 10 kilometers. The greatest water storage, therefor

16、e, lies near the surface. (TPO 28 Groundwater)1. In paragraph1, why does the author mention “the pressure of the overlying rock”?A. To show how water can be forced deep under Earths surfaceB. To show why groundwater is more plentiful than surface freshwaterC. To correct a commonly made error about t

17、he location of groundwaterD. To explain why most groundwater lies near Earths surface在修辭的描寫之后，本段的最后一句出現(xiàn)了therefore。這里也是在說(shuō)the pressure of the overlying rock導(dǎo)致的結(jié)果，也就是文章提到它的目的。其結(jié)果是，大部分的水儲(chǔ)都在比較表面的地方。所以其目的就是要解釋為什么水都在表面的地方，因此選D。An even more exciting find was reported in 1994, also from Pakistan. The now ext

18、inct whale Ambulocetus natans ("the walking whale that swam") lived in the Tethys Sea 49 million years ago. It lived around 3 million years after Pakicetus but 9 million before Basilosaurus. The fossil luckily includes a good portion of the hind legs. (TPO 2 The origins of Cetaceans)9. Why

19、 does the author use the word luckily in mentioning that the Ambulocetus natans fossil included hind legs?A. Fossil legs of early whales are a rare find.B. The legs provided important information about the evolution of cetaceans.C. The discovery allowed scientists to reconstruct a complete skeleton

20、of the whale.D. Until that time, only the front legs of early whales had been discovered.通過(guò)luckily可以看出邏輯上層應(yīng)該在前面，所以通過(guò)對(duì)前面句子的理解可以知道修辭所在的句子所想服務(wù)的論點(diǎn)是這段第一句話，所以答案選擇B。 (2) . 當(dāng)無(wú)明顯連詞作為提醒時(shí)，我們只能從整段的邏輯結(jié)構(gòu)上把握。大部分常見(jiàn)答案位置為修辭所在句子前面的部分。請(qǐng)看例子：The numbers of deer have fluctuated markedly since the entry of Europeans into P

21、uget Sound country. The early explorers and settlers told of abundant deer in the early 1800s and yet almost in the same breath bemoaned the lack of this succulent game animal. Famous explorers of the north American frontier, Lewis and Clark had experienced great difficulty finding game west of the

22、Rockies and not until the second of December did they kill their first elk. (TPO 4 Deer Populations of the Puget Sound)5. The author tells the story of the explorers Lewis and Clark in paragraph 3 in order to illustrate which of the following points?A. The number of deer within the Puget sound regio

23、n has varied over time.B. Most of the explorers who came to the Puget sound area were primarily interested than in the West.C. There was more game for hunting in the East of the United States than in the West.D. Individual explorers were not as successful at locating games as were the trad

24、ing companies.往前看，這兩個(gè)人明顯是早期探險(xiǎn)家的一個(gè)例子，讀前句說(shuō)他們知道原本有很多鹿，但又沒(méi)找到，很顯然這句話不足以作為一個(gè)觀點(diǎn)，本段中心句說(shuō)鹿的數(shù)量變化很大，這是一個(gè)中心，而A選項(xiàng)剛好是這個(gè)中心，為正確答案。But that is not all that changes. During all phases of sleep, several changes in the air passages have been observed. It takes twice as much effort to breathe during sleep because of grea

25、ter resistance to airflow in the airways and changes in the efficiency of the muscles used for breathing. Some of the muscles that help keep the upper airway open when breathing tend to become more relaxed during sleep, especially during REM (the phase of sleep in which there is rapid eye movement).

26、 Without this muscular action, inhaling is like sucking air out of a balloonthe narrow passages tend to collapse. (TPO 24 Breathing During Sleep)5. What is the author's purpose in stating that inhaling is like sucking air out of a balloon?A. To refute the argument that additional effort is neces

27、sary for breathing during sleepB. To argue that REM sleep is more important than NREM sleepC. To illustrate the difficulty of breathing during sleepD. To illustrate how blockage of narrow passages can be prevented during sleep先看修辭點(diǎn)所在的句子，但原句整個(gè)都是一個(gè)例子，往前看，前一句仍然在說(shuō)肌肉relax的事情，因此也是例子，所以看開(kāi)頭，開(kāi)頭說(shuō)air passage在睡

28、覺(jué)期間變了很多，緊接著就解釋睡覺(jué)期間呼吸很難，也就是開(kāi)頭所指的變化是睡覺(jué)的時(shí)候呼吸變難，所以正確答案是C。A的refute與原文相反；B的比較和D的prevent blockage原文都沒(méi)有提及。 在無(wú)明顯的邏輯連接詞或者態(tài)度詞作為提醒的情況下，極少部分答案往后面找尋請(qǐng)看例子：Some of the worlds finest stone architecture can be seen in the ruins of the ancient Inca city of Machu Picchu high in the eastern Andes Mountains of Peru. The d

29、oorways and windows are made possible by placing over the open spaces thick stone beams that support the weight from above. A structural invention had to be made before the physical limitations of stone could be overcome and new architectural forms could be created. (TPO 3 Architecture)10. Why does

30、the author include a description of how the “doorways and windows” of Machu Picchu were constructed?A. To indicate that the combined skeletons and skins of the stone buildings of Machu Picchu were similar to igloos and adobe structuresB. To indicate the different kinds of stones that had to be cut t

31、o build Machu PicchuC. To provide an illustration of the kind of construction that was required before arches were inventedD. To explain how ancient builders reduced the amount of time necessary to construct buildings from stone.讀doorways and windows所在的一句話，說(shuō)門窗是通過(guò)把石頭橫梁放在space上面形成的，讀前一句的時(shí)候發(fā)現(xiàn)也是個(gè)例子，所以不是答案，往下句看，說(shuō)想克服石頭帶給建筑的障礙，必須有一個(gè)新發(fā)明。按照原文，門窗的形成是一種克服石頭帶來(lái)的